Realty Check (mortgage, property taxes, tornado)

[Arrgh]

Amazing how cops and firemen are the first to go. A local Sherriff, making 200K per year hired 15 admin assistants at 150K per year. That is pure patronage. Why not fire all the nonproductive overhead, ADMINISTRATORS.... how about lowering wages, the UAW and Pilots union plus many others have taken pay cuts. Also are there any corporations out there that still have a 100% funded pension plan? I believe that retirement is now based on corporate contributions to IRA, 401K, Roth etc etc.
There is a TON of money to be saved right there. The only problem is that once a politico gets in or you get a civil service job you are in for life.

This November I plan to VOTE FOR THE OTHER GUY whoever is in, I am voting him OUT

[tallrick]

I will have more respect for government when they learn how to cut back like the rest of us.

[riveree]

It's an old threat - 'Well if you want lower taxes, then you can't have any police or firemen!'

Pu-leez! The goverment always seems to find a place to cut the budget when it's something THEY want, I'm sure cuts can be made in areas other than police and fire.......it's just a threat to shut us up.

[firemed]

This is from someone who sees this first hand. The tax cuts proposed will cut into the public services. I agree with the poster above about cutting administrative positions that are pratically useless. By cutting firefighters cops and paramedics that will solve nothing. When your heading to work and get into that car accident who's going to be there to insert a breathing tube and an IV while lying in the mud as the car is being cut apart to get you out? Or that cardiac arrest first thing in the morning, or the multiple shooting in the middle of the night. At the same time spending 18 to 24 hours without sleep and still have minutes to make a decision which could result in life or death. On one of the post there was a realtor who was complaining about cutting back the 6% commission on a home and made the statement " Well next time your at the Dr's office ask him to cut his rates. They to are a little excessive don't ya think? " Well I'm not a doctor or claim to be anything close but chances are without us in the field you'd never make it to the doctor in the first place. So the next time your trying to get an appointment at the doctors office, remember we make house calls 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Wether it's a hurricane, a fire, a flood, or just a plain tragedy wer'e there, understaffed overworked and underpaid. Let the Florida house of representatives cut some positions from the inside. PS: I feel much better knowing that if somebody tips one of my cows they can now be prosecuted. This is your big tax dollars at work.

[riveree]

Unfortunately, using fear to govern the people has been paying in spades.

[firemed]

Originally Posted by riveree

Unfortunately, using fear to govern the people has been paying in spades.

This has been sent out all over the state.


Dear Fire Service Professionals and Affiliates

Re: Proposed Tax Reform

The Florida House, Senate, and Governor have been working in an effort to bring tax relief to our State. The Florida Fire Service is supportive of a responsible tax reform that will not endanger the lives, property, or well being of the Floridians and visitors that we are charged with protecting.

The Governor, House, and Senate have stated that Public Safety would not be negatively affected by their tax reform initiatives without quantifying their statements through legislation. We implore them to stand behind their
statements and assure that today’s emergencies are not tomorrows tragedies.

The Florida Professional Firefighters and the Florida Fire Chiefs
Association have joined to highlight concerns on the possible devastating ramifications that proposed tax reform could mean to the Florida Fire
Service. We ask that you join us in asking our Governor and Legislators how they plan to assure the viability of Public Safety Services across our great State of Florida.

In this effort many local FPF affiliates and Fire Chiefs Associations have been meeting to coordinate a campaign culminating with a Public Safety rally in Tallahassee on June 13, 2007, on the steps of the Capital. Organizations from across the State will be sending members to join in this rally to express their concerns so that our voices may be heard loud and clear.

We ask that each local organization across the State join in this effort by taking the following actions:

• contact your local legislators while they are home
• contact conference committee members prior to their meetings that are scheduled for May 22nd and June 4th in Tallahassee
• take out ads in local newspapers highlighting concerns and the
possible effects to your service in firefighters, units, stations, and service levels
• prepare to be present in Tallahassee on June 13th and bring members from all levels of your organizations
• prepare signs that identify our concerns

Finally, the FPF and FFCA have been heavily involved in this issue, but we need your help and support. Together we will be able to assure that the Florida Fire Service remains a service capable of meeting the needs of all our residents, visitors and provides for the safety of our Firefighters. So, join us in asking the Governor and our Legislators just how they plan on assuring that Florida Public Safety organizations are held harmless under their proposals.

[tallrick]

I find it amazing that people fall for that nonsense. How much money actually goes for the salaries of police and fire? I bet a lot more went for stupid traffic circles, thousands of unneccessary stop signs, and useless "art" projects, as well as roadside trees. If it's absolutely necessary to cut expenses, how about pushing for a repeal of drug laws. So many police officers are needlessly endangered from this stupidity. As for fire, individual homeowners should be encouraged to be more fire-safe. I installed sprinklers in my home just to be more secure, and it wasn't that expensive. We citizens need to be more responsible for ourselves, so we don't have to employ so many first responders. Anyway if we have a major hurricane there will not be enough police and fire personnel to fill the need.

[121804]

Do homeowners in this state have a way that they are allowed to contest the appraised value of their home? Is there an outlet where they can debate what the appraised value is?

I am just wondering b/c if one all of a sudden sees a $50,000 [random number] jump in their appraisal in a fiscal year yet no homes in the area are selling for that amount or worth that amount, what can be done?

[tallrick]

There is always the Kangaroo Court, the VAB (Value Adjustment Board). I have contested every year, but have had no luck. I have been debating whether to take my fight to circuit court, but I need to do some research at the law library first.

[lionking]

Originally Posted by tallrick

I will have more respect for government when they learn how to cut back like the rest of us.

I agree totally.It will cut into public services in the sense they will have to budget themselves,but they gained enormous profits from taxes in such a short time,now things are leveling off and they do not want to be forced to be accountable for the money....cry me a river.

Its a scare tactic saying that police won't be able to do their job...just like when a social program doesn't increase in budget yet isn't loosing money they still call it a "cut".Just like all the Fed government programs,talk about about reform say social security and making the goobermint actually control themselves on spending they swear you''ll go hungry and homeless if you do.